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**WnEX   JKSUS   WAS  A    CHILD.' 


IT     IS     THE     CHRISTMAS-TIME 


BY    MISS    MULOCK 


WITH    TWKLVK    IDEAL    CHRISTMAS    HYMNS    AND    POEMS 


ILL  USTRA  TED 


BOSTON 
D.  LOTHROP  AND  COMPANY 

FRANKLIN    AND    HAVVLEV    STREETS 


/^ 


10 


A    HYMN    FOR     CHRISTMAS     MORNING. 


"  Poor    mothers,   with    your    hoard 
Of   endless    love    and    countless    pain  — 
Remember    all    her    grief,    her    gain, 

The   Mother   of    the    Lord. 

"  Mourners,    half    blind    with    woe, 
Look    up  I     One    standeth    in    his    place, 
And    by    the    pity    of    his    face 

The    Man    of    Sorrows    know. 

''  Wanderers    in    far    countrie, 
O   think    of    Him    who    came,    forgot, 
To    His    own,    and    they    received    Him   not  — 

Jesus    of    Galilee. 

''  0    all   ye    who    have    trod 
The    wine-press    of    affliction,    lay 
Your    hearts    before    His    heart   this   day  — 

Behold    the    Christ   of    God!" 


Miss   MulocJc. 


VVANDEKEKS    IN    KAU    COUNTItlE." 


Willi, !•,    sirEl'HKKnS    WAT<^IIKD   THKIR    KI.OCKS   BY    NUillT." 


WHILE  SHEPHERDS  WATCHED  THEIR  FLOCKS  BY  NIGHT. 

While    shepherds    watch'd  their    flocks    by    night, 

All    seated    on    the    ground, 
The   angel    of    the    Lord    came   down, 

And    glor}^    shone    around. 

"  Fear   not,"    said  he ;    (for    mighty    dread 

Had    seized    their   troubled  mind;) 
"  Glad    tidings    of   great   joy    I    bring 

To   you    and    all    mankind. 

"  To   you    in    David's    town    this    daj- 

Is    born    of    David's   line 
The    Saviour,    wlio    is   Christ   the    Lord  ; 

And    this    shall    be   the    sign. 

"  The    Heavenly    Babe   you   there    shall    find 

To    human    view  displayed. 
All    meanly    wrapt    in   swathing   bands, 

And    in    a    manfj-er    laid." 


12 


WHILE    SHEPHERDS     WATCHED     THEIR    FLOCKS    BY    NIGHT. 


Thus    spake    the    Seraph ;     and    forthwith 

Appeared    a    shining   throng 
Of   angels,   praising    God,  and    thus 

Addressed    their   joyful  song. 

"  All    glory    be    to    God    on    high, 

And    to    the    earth    be    peace ; 
Good    will    henceforth    from    Heaven    to    men 

Begin,  and  never    cease  !  " 

—  Nahum   Tate, 


A.\U    TO    Till-;    LAhlH    UK    I'tACt. 


'HAUK  !  THK  HKHAI.n  ANOELS  SINO.' 


HARK !    THE  HERALD  ANGELS  SING. 

Hark  !    the    herald    angels    sing, 
"  Glory    to    the    new-born    King : 
Peace    on    earth,    and    mercy   mild, 
God    and    sinners    reconciled  !  " 
Joyful   all   ye    nations,    rise, 
Join    the   triumph    of   the    skies ; 
Universal   nature,    say, 
Christ   the    Lord    is    born    to-day ! 


Christ,    by    highest    Heaven    adored ; 
Christ,  the    Everlasting   Lord ; 
Late    in    time    behold    Him   come, 
Offspring   of   a   Virgin's  womb ; 
Veiled    in    flesh    the    Godhead    see, 
Hail,    th'    Incarnate    Deity, 
Pleased  as  man  with  men  to  appear, 
Jesus    our    Immanuel    here ! 


16 


HARK!     THE    HERALD    ANGELS    SING. 

Hail !  the  heavenly  Prince    of  Peace  ! 

Hail  !  the    son    of    Righteousness ! 

Light  and    life    to    all    He    brings, 

Risen  with    healing    in    his    wings. 

Mild  he   lays   his    glory   by, 

Born  that    man    no    more    may    die. 

Born  to    raise    the    sons    of    earth. 

Born  to    give   them    second    birth. 

Come,    Desire    of   nations,    come, 

Fix   in    us   thy    humble   home. 

Rise,    the    woman's    conquering    seed, 

Bruise    in   us    the    Serpent's    head. 

Now    display    thy    saving    power. 

Ruined   nature    now    restore, 

Now   in   mystic    union   join 

Thine    to    ours,    and    ours    to    thine.    , 

Adam's    likeness,    Lord,    efface ; 
Stamp   thy    image    in    its    place; 
Second    Adam    from    above. 
Reinstate    us    in    Tliy    love. 
Let   us  Thee,    though   lost,   regain, 
Thee,    the    Life,    the    Heavenly    Man: 
0,    to    all    Thy    self    impart. 
Formed    in   each    believing    heart ! 

—  Charles  Wesley. 


THE  STAR-SONG. 

Tell    us,    thou    clear    and    heavenly    tongue, 
Where   is   the    Babe    but    lately   sprung  ? 
Lies    he    the    lily-banks    among  ? 

Or   say,    if    this   new    Birth    of    ours 
Sleeps,    laid    within    some   ark    of    flowers. 
Spangled    with    dew-light ;    thou    canst   clear 
All    doubts,    and  manifest    the    where. 

Declare    to    us,    l)right    star,    if    we    shall    seek 
Ilim    in    the    morning's    blushing    cheek, 
Or    search    the    beds    of   spices    througli, 
To    find    him    out  ? 


Star:  No.  tliis  ye  need  not  do; 
But  only  come  and  see  Him  rest. 
A    princely    babe,    on    's    mother's    breast. 


■JioUrt  J  It  r  rick. 


EPIPHANY. 


Brightest    and    best    of    the    sons    of    the    morning, 


Dawn    on    our    darkness    and    lend    us    thine    aid ! 
ar   of    the    east,    the    horizon    adorning, 
Guide    where    our   infant    Redeemer    is    laid ! 


Cold    on    His    cradle    the    dew-drops    are    shining, 
Low    lies    His    bed    with    the    beasts    of    the    stall ; 

Ang;els    adore    Him    in    slumber    reclinino;  — 
Maker,    and    monarch,    and    Saviour    of    all. 

Say,    shall    we    yield    him    in    costly    devotion. 
Odors    of   Edom,    and    offerings    divine : 

Gems    of    the    mountain    and    pearls    of    the    ocean ; 
Myrrh    from    the    forest    and    gold    from    the    mine  ? 

Vainly    we    offer    each    ample    oblation, 

Vainly    with    gold    would    His    favor   secure ; 

Richer    by   far    is    the    heart's    adoration, 

Dearer    to    God    are    the    prayers    of    the    poor. 


Brightest    and    best    of   the    sons    of   the   morning. 
Dawn    on    our    darkness    and    lend    us    thine    aid ! 

Star    of    the    east,    the    horizon    adorning. 
Guide    where    our   infant    Redeemer    is    laid ! 

—  Reginald  Heber. 


ii'oN  A  <i.i;ak  Hi.rK  uiVEU." 


A  CHRISTMAS  HYMN. 

What    sudden    blaze    of    song 

Spreads    o'er    the    expanse    of    Heaven  ? 
In    waves    of    light    it    thrills    along, 
Th'    angelic    signal   given : 
Glory    to    God  !  from    yonder    central   fire 
Flows    out    the    echoing    lay   beyond    the    starry   choir. 

Like    circles   widening    round 
Upon    a   clear    blue    river. 
Orb    after   orb,    the    wondrous   sound 
Is    echoed    on    forever  : 
"Glory    to    God    on    high,    on    earth    be   peace, 
And    love    toward    men    of    love,    salvation    and    release ! 


Yet   stay,    before    thou    dare 

To   join    that    festal    throng ; 
Listen,    and    mark    what    gentle   air 
First    stirred    the    tide    of    song: 
'T    is    not,    ''  the    Saviour    born    in    David's   home, 
To    whom    for    power    and    health    obedient    worlds    should    come." 


22  A     CHEI8TMAS    HYMN. 

'T    is   not,    "the    Christ    the    Lord": 

With    fixed    adoring    look 
The    choir    of   angels    caught   the   word, 
Nor   yet    their   silence    broke : 
But    when    they   heard    the    sign,    where    Christ    should    be, 
In   sudden   light    they    shone,    and    heavenly   harmony. 

Wrapped    in    His    swaddling   bands. 

And    in   his    manger   laid. 
The    Hope    and    Glory    of   all    lands 
Is    come    to    the    world's    aid : 
No   peaceful    home   upon    His    cradle    smiled ; 
Guests   rudely   went   and    came,    where    slept    the    royal   Child. 

But   where    Thou    dwellest,    Lord, 
No    other    thought   should   be ; 
Once    duly   welcomed    and   adored. 
How    should    I   part   with   Thee  ? 
Bethlehem   must   lose    Thee    soon ;    but   Thou    wilt    grace 
The    single    heart   to    be   Thy    sure    abiding-place. 

Thee,    on    the    bosom   laid 

Of   a    pure    virgin    mind. 
In    quiet    ever   and    in    shade 
Shepherd    and    sage    may   find ; 
They,    who   have    bowed   untaught    to    nature's    sway. 
And    they,    who   follow    Truth    along   her   star-paved    way. 

The    pastoral    spirits    first 

Approach    Thee,    Babe    divine ; 


A     CHRISTMAS    HYMN. 


25 


For   they    in    lonely    thoughts    are    nurst, 
Meet    for    thy    lowly    shrine ; 
Sooner   than    they    should    miss    where    Thou    dost    dwell. 
Angels   from    Heaven    will    stoop    to    guide   them    to    Thy    cell. 

Still   as    the    day    comes  round 

For   Thee    to    be    revealed, 
By    wakeful    shepherds    thou   art  found, 
Abidino;    in    the    field : 
All    through    the    wintry    heaven    and    chill    night    air 
In  music    and    in    light    Thou    dawnest    on    their    prayer. 


''\.;ii:   \VAM)i;i;iN<;  siiket  ! 


0   faint    not   ye    for   fear ! 

What    though    your    wandering   sheep, 
Reckless   of   what   they    see   and   hear, 
Lie    lost    in    wilful    sleep  ? 
High    Heaven,    in    mercy    to    your    sad    annoy. 
Still    greets    you    with    glad    tidings    of    immortal    joy. 


26  THE    ANGEL  S     SONG. 

Think    on    the    eternal    home 
The    Saviour   left  for   you ; 
Think    on    the    Lord    most    holy,   come 
To    dwell    with    hearts    untrue : 
So    shall   ye    tread    untried    His    pastoral   ways, 
And    in   the    darkness    sing   your    carol    of    high    praise. 


—  John  Kehle. 


THE  ANGEL'S  SONG. 

It   came    upon    the    n^.idnight    clear. 

That   glorious    song   of    old, 
From    angels    bending   near    the  earth, 

To    touch    their    harps    of    gold : 
"  Peace    on    earth,    good    will   to    men, 

From    Heaven's    all-gracious    King." 
The    world    in    solemn    stillness    lay 

To    hear   the    ang-els    sino;. 


Still    thro'    the    cloven    skies    they    come, 
With    peaceful    wings    unfurled ; 

And    still    their    heavenly    music    floats 
O'er    all    the    weary    world : 


AMI     \  I..     1.1    M.  \  I  II     1,11   I.    ■-    (   Kl'^lllNl.     LOAD. 


THE    ANGEL'S     SONG. 


Above  its  sad  and  lowly  i)lains 
They    bend    on    hovering  wing, 

And  ever  o'er  its  Babel  sounds 
The    blessed    ano;els   sincr. 


But   with    the    woes   of   sin    and    strife 

The    world    has    suffered    long ; 
Beneath    the    angel-strain    have    rolled 

Two    thousand    years    of    wrong  ; 
And    man,    at    war    with    n)an,    liears    not 

The    love- song    which    they    bring  : 
0    hush    the    noise,    ye    men    of    strife, 

And    hear   the    ano;els  sino;. 


And    ye,    l)eneath    life's    crushing    load 

Whose    forms    are    bendino;    low, 
Who    toil    along    the    climbing    way, 

With    painful    steps   and   slow  — 
Look    now  ;    for    glad    and    golden    hours 

Come    swiftly    on   the    wing : 
0    rest   beside    tlie    wear}^   road, 

And   hear    the  angels  sing. 


For  lo,  the  days  are  hastening  on 
By    prophet    bards    foretold, 

When  with  the  ever  circling  years 
Conies    round    the    ai2;e    of    gold 


30  THE    ANGELS. 


When    Peace    shall    over    all    the    earth 

Its   ancient  splendors   fling, 
And    the    whole    world    ,o;ive    back    the   song 

Which    now  the    ano;els    sing;. 

—  liev.  E.  H.   ^ears. 


THE   ANGELS. 

Run.    shepherds,    run    where    Bethlehem   blest    appears. 

We    bring   the    best  of   news ;    be    not   dismayed  : 
A    Saviour   there    is    born   more    old    than    years, 

Amidst    Heaven's    rolling    height   this    earth  who    stayed. 
In   a    poor    cottage    inned,   a    virgin    maid 

A  weakling    did    him    bear,    who    all   upbears ; 
There   is   he    poorly    swaddled,    in    manger   laid, 

To    whom    too    narrow    swaddlings    are    our  spheres : 
Run,    shepherds,    run,    and    solemnize    his   birth. 

This    is    that   night  —  no,    day,    grown   great  with    bliss, 

In   which    the    power    of    Satan    broken  is : 
In    Heaven    be    glory,    peace    unto   the    earth ! 

Thus    singing,    through    the    air   the    angels    swarm, 

And    cope    of    stars   re-echoed    the    same. 

—  Druniinond, 


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"a    SAVIUUU    lULltJi    IS    llul'.N. 


MEEK    AND   LOWLY. 


A  CHRISTMAS  VISION. 

The    scene    around    niu    disappears, 
And,    borne    to    ancient    regions, 

While    time    recalls   the    flight    of   years, 
1    see   angelic    leix'ons 

Descendini;    in    an    oil)    of    liiiht: 

Amidst    the    dark    and    soleinn    night 
I    hear    celestial    voices. 


34  A     CHRISTMAS     VISION. 

Tidings,    glad    tidings    from    above 

To    every  age    and    nation ! 
Tidings,    glad    tidings !     God    is   Love, 

To   man    He    sends    salvation  ! 
His    Son    beloved,    His    only    Son, 
The   work   of   mercy    hath    begun ; 

Give   to   His   Name    the    glory! 

Through   David's    city    I    am    led  ; 

Here    all  around    are    sleeping  j 
A   light   directs   to   yon    poor    shed ; 

There  lonely  watch  is  keeping : 
I  enter ;  ah  !  what  glories  shine ! 
Is   this    Immanuel's    earthly    shrine, 

Messiah's   infant    Temple  ? 

It   is,    it   is ;    and    I    adore 

This    Stranger    meek    and    lowly, 

As   saints   and   angels    bow    before 
The   throne   of    God    thrice   Holy ! 

Faith    through    the   veil    of   flesh   can    see 

The   face    of   Thy   Divinity, 

My   Lord,   my   God,   my    Saviour ! 

— James  Montgomery. 


THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

The    minstrels    played    their    Christuuis    tune 
To-night   beneath    my    cottage    eaves ; 

AVhile,    smitten    by    a    lofty    moon, 

The    encircling    laurels,    thick   with    leaves, 

Gave   back   a   rich    and    dazzling   sheen. 

That   overpowered   their   natural   green. 

Through    hill    and    valley    every    breeze 
Had    sunk    to    rest    with    folded    wings: 

Keen    was    the    air,    but  could    not   freeze. 
Nor   check,    the    music   of   the    strings; 

So    stout    and    hearty    were    the    band 

That    scraped    the    chords    with    strenuous   hand! 

And    who    but    listened  ?  —  till    was    paid 

Respect   to    every   inmate's   claim : 
The    greeting   given,    the    music   played, 

In    honor  of    each    household    name. 
Duly    pronounced    with    lusty    call, 
And    "  Merry    Christmas "    wished    to   all ! 

How    touching,    when,    at    midniglit,    sweep 

Snow-muftled    winds   and    all    is   dark, 
To    hear,    and    sink    again    to    sleep ! 


36  THE    CHRISTMAS    CAROL. 

Or,    at   an    earlier   call,    to    mark, 
By    blazing   fire,    tlie    still    suspense 
Of   self-complacent    innocence ; 

The    mutual   nod, —  the   grave  disguise 
Of   hearts    with    gladness    brimming   o'er; 

And    some   unbidden    tears   that    rise 

For   names    once   heard,    and    heard    no   more; 

Tears    brightened    by    the    serenade 

For  infant    in   the    cradle    laid. 

Hail,    ancient    Manners  !    sure    defence, 

Where   they   survive,  of    wholesome    laws; 

Remnants    of   love    whose    modest    sense 
Thus   into    narrow    room    withdraws ; 

Hail,   usages   of   pristine    mould. 

And   ye    that   guard    them,    Mountains    old ! 

—  William    Wordsioorth, 


wiiiii-'»   1  "i;  cui  iAt. 


MARY'S  SONG. 

Babe    Jesus    lay    in    Mary's    lap; 

The    sun    shone    on    his    hair ; 
And    this    was    how    she    saw,    mayhap, 

The   crown    already    there. 

For    she    sang :    ''  Sleep    on,    my    little    king, 

Bad    Herod    dares    not   come ; 
Before   thee    sleeping,    holy    thing. 

The   wild    winds    would    be    dumb. 

"  I    kiss   thy   hands,   I    kiss   thy   feet. 

My    child,    so    long    desired; 
Thy    hands    shall    never   be    soiled,    my    sweet; 

Thy   feet   shall   never    be    tired. 

"  For   thou   art   the    king   of   men,    my    son ; 

Thy   crown    I    see    it    plain  ; 
And    men    shall    worship   thee,    every   one, 

And   cry,   Glory  !    Amen  !  " 

Babe    Jesus   opened   his   eyes    so   wide ! 

At    Mary    looked    her   Lord. 

And    Mary    stinted    her    song    and    sighed. 

Babe    Jesus    said    never   a    word. 

—  Georye  MacDouahl. 


THE  WILD  FOWL'S   VOICE. 

It    cliancecl    upon    the    ir.eriy,    merry    Christmas    eve, 

I  went    sighing    past    the   church  across  the  moorland  dreary — 

0,    never    sin    and    want    and    woe    this    earth    will    leave, 

And    the     bells    but     mock    the    wailing    sound,    they   sing    so 
cheery. 

How    long,   0    Lord  !    how    long    before    Thou    come    again  ? 

Still    in    cellar,    and    in    garret,    and    on    mountain    dreary, 
The  orphans  moan,  and  widows  weep,  and  poor  men   toil  in  vain, 

Till    earth    is    sick    of    hope    deferred,    though    Christmas    bells 
be    cheery. 

Then    arose    a   joyous    clamor   from    the    wild-fowl    on    the    mere, 

Beneath   the    stars,    across    the    snow,    like    clear  bells    ringing. 

And    a    voice    within    cried  —  "  Listen  !  —  Christmas    carols    even 

here 
Though    thou    be    dumb,    yet    o'er     their    work    the    stars    and 

snows    are    sino-ino;. 

"  Blind  !    I    live,   I    love,   I    reign  ;    and    all    the    nations    through, 
With    the    thunder    of    My   judgments    even    now    are    ringing ; 
Do  thou    fulfil    thy    work    but    as    yon    wild-fowl    do. 

Thou    wilt     heed    no    less     the    wailing,    yet    hear    through    it 
anirels    sinu;ino;." 

—  Charles  Kingsley, 


"I    I.IVIC,    I    LOVE,   I   iieign!" 


"  HOPE   Ol'   THE  AGES." 


A  CHRISTMAS  CARMEN. 


Sound   over   all    waters,    reach    out   from    all    lands, 
The    chorus    of   voices,    the    clasping    of    hands ; 
Sing   hymns    that    were    sung   by   the    stars   of   the    morn, 
Sinsc   song's   of   the    ans-els    when    Jesus    was    born ! 

With    glad    jubilations 

Bring   hope    to    the    nations ! 
The    dark    night    is    ending    and    dawn    is    begun  ; 
Rise,    hope    of    the    ages,    arise   like    the    sun, 
All    speech    flow    to    nui.sic,    all    hearts    beat   as    one ! 


44 


A     CHRISTMAS    CABMEN. 

Sing   the    bridal    of    nations !    with    chorals   of   love 
Sing    out    the    war-vnltnre   and    sing    in    the   dove, 


SING    'JHK    SONG    Of    GRKAT    JOV. 


Till  the    hearts    of    the    peoples    keep    time    in   accord, 
And    the   voice   of   the    world    is   the   voice    of    the    Lord! 

Clasp   hands   of    the   nations 

In    strong  gratulations : 


A     CHRIS  TMA  S     CA  UMEN. 


45 


The    dark    night    is    ending    and    dawn    has    begun ; 

Rise,    hope    of    the    ages,    arise    like    the    sun, 

All    speech    How    to    music,    all    hearts    beat   as   one! 

Blow,    bugles  of   battle,    the    marches    of   peace ; 
East,   west,    north   and    south   let    the    long   quarrel    cease 
Sing   the   song   of    great   joy    that    the    angels    began. 
Sing   of   glory    to   God    and    of    good    will    to    man ! 

Hark !    joining    in    chorus 

The    heavens    bend    o'er   us! 
The    dark  nii>i;ht  is    endins;   and    dawn    has  beii-un ; 
Rise,  hope    of  the    ages,  arise    like    the  sun, 
All    speech    How    to    music,  all  hearts    beat    as    one  ! 

—  J.  G.   Whit  tier. 


EmM: 


HRBI 


